Here are the resources you need for this Sunday. Please feel free to choose what is suitable for your congregation’s needs. You will notice that the orders of service are available in different formats: choose the “pdf” format if you want something that is ready to print and photocopy, the “doc” or “rtf” format if you wish to change the formatting yourself or the “ppt” format if you use PowerPoint.

Altar colour:Green

Bible readings:Note: There are two sets of first readings (with accompanying Psalms) given for the Sundays after Pentecost: (a) a new semi-continuous set, and (b) a set related thematically to the gospels (as in the earlier form of the lectionary). It is intended that either one of these two sets be used throughout and that they not be mixed.FIRST READING (a) 2 Samuel 11:26 – 12:13a David’s sin is condemned
OR (b) Exodus 16:2-4,9-15The manna and the quails
PSALM (a) Psalm 51:1-12OR (b)Psalm 78:23-29 *For musical settings of these Psalms, please see the song suggestions below*
SECOND READINGEphesians 4:1-16Unity in the body of Christ
GOSPEL John 6:24-35Jesus the bread of God gives life to the world

Notes on the readingsEXODUS 16:2-4,9-15: God allowed the Israelites, after miraculous rescue from slavery and death, to be led into a hopeless physical situation without natural means of proper nourishment. His miraculous provision of food also provided a test and learning opportunity for them. The use of this food sent from heaven called for faith and obedience and demonstrated that the real source of continued life is the word from God’s mouth and that God trains his people in obedience to that word (Deut 8:3,16). The name ‘manna’ is derived from their initial question, ‘man hu’ (what is it?). Jesus pointed to his own coming as analogous to this miracle (John 6:41) but himself as an infinitely greater and eternal ‘food’.

EPHESIANS 4:1-16: Every expression of Christian faith, Christian living and Christian love is meant by God to build up the unity of his people just as the means of giving the new life emanate from the Trinity’s own unity. The many and varied gifts of spiritual leadership and ministry he has given his church are also given to achieve that unity. This unity is to bring Christians together to mature by growing into the character of their head, namely Christ. False doctrine destroys and divides. The truth of the word fabricates intricately a united body ever growing in love.

JOHN 6:24-35: After Jesus had fed the 5000 he quietly withdrew to avoid efforts forcibly to make him a king. That was still in the mind of the crowd which found him. They had seen no further in the miracle than the bread which they received, not giving a thought that it came from God’s power. Jesus told them to devote their efforts rather to eternal life, which could only come by faith. The people, however, demanded a sign. They would only believe something they could see themselves. Jesus told them that the true bread gives what God deems to be true life; that he himself was the bread of life, and that to receive it meant believing in him.

Opening SentencesThere is one body and one Spirit,
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,one God and Father of all,who is above all and through all and in all. (Eph 4:4-6 NRSV alt)

Prayer of the Day (Collect): Choose one of the followingTraditional
O God, since you declare your almighty power
chiefly in showing mercy and pity:
Mercifully grant us such a measure of your grace,
that we may run to obtain your promises,
and share in your heavenly glory;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.Amen.

OR, modernised traditional
Lord God, you reveal your almighty power
most of all in showing mercy.
In your loving kindness
let us run towards what you have promised,
and share in your heavenly treasure.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.Amen.

OR, alternative
(Let us pray for the bread of life. [silence])
Loving Father,
your dear Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven
to be the true bread
which gives life to the world.
Give us this bread, so that he may live in us
and we in him.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.Amen.

OR, new
(Let us pray for the bread of life. [silence])
God, our source and our goal,
you have made us to hunger and thirst for you.
Satisfy our hunger
with the bread that gives real life,
your Son Jesus Christ.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.Amen.

ALLELUIA VERSEAlleluia.The Son of Man will give you
the food that endures for eternal life. (based on John 6:27a NRSV)Alleluia.

Prayer after the gospel:This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming from the Father
to give life to the world.
Help us to believe in you.
Amen.

Offering Prayer:We thank you, Father,
for your Son Jesus who gives us life,
and for the Holy Spirit who joins us all together.
Increase our faith in Jesus
and our love for one another and all people.
Lead us to use the gifts you have given us
in loving service for the good of all.
Amen.

Resources for services with Holy Communion
SEASONAL PREFACEIt is indeed right and good,
Lord God, holy Father,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(On this day)*
he overcame death by his resurrection
and opened up for us
the way to eternal life with you.
And so, with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we adore and praise your glorious name:

* The words ‘on this day’ are used only on Sundays.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNIONEITHER
Let us pray. We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed
us through this healing gift; and we pray that through it you would
graciously strengthen us in faith toward you and in love toward one
another; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Amen.OR
Let us pray. Heavenly Father, as you did not spare your own Son, but
gave him up for us all: Grant that we who have received his body and
blood in the sacrament may live in him and he in us, so that, as your
children, we may walk in your ways and serve you all the days of our
life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Amen.

Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Loving Father,
your dear Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven
to be the true bread
which gives life to the world.
As you have fed us with this bread,
may he live in us and we in him.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

DISMISSALGo in peace, and grow in faith and love.Thanks be to God. ORIn the name of Christ. Amen.

Second reading: Ephesians 4:1-16
LHS
108 The Lord ascendeth up on high G3
119 Come down, O Love divine G9 (see TIS 398)
189 One is our God and Father* G6
191 The Church’s one foundation G4 (see TIS 457)
194 Thy hand, O God, has guided G3 (see TIS 456)
246 Father, be Thy blessing shed* G8
344 Our God is love, and all His saints* G6
773 Filled with the Spirit’s power
797 Blest be the tie that binds GS
800 May we be one GS
802 One family, we’re together GS
803 Peace with the Father
859 Seek, O seek the LordAT
62 One family
172 May we be one
174 Bind us together
388 One body
438 It’s gonna be alright
528 Gifts of grace
616 In my Father’s house
651 For the Common GoodTIS
192 Christ is the world’s redeemer
238 Christ is the world’s true light
258 Praise to you, O Christ our Saviour
398 Come down, O Love divine
411 Filled with the Spirit’s power
434 Where there is charity and love
440 Christ, from whom all blessings flow
442 All praise to our redeeming Lord
456 Your hand, O God, has guided
457 The church’s one foundation
464 Seek, O seek the Lord
466 Peace with the Father
477 This is the truth we hold
533 I come with joy to meet my Lord (holy communion)
631 Father, Lord of all creation
648 Help us accept each other

Gospel: John 6:24-35See selection for first reading (b) plus:LHS
259 Speak, O Lord, thy servant heareth* (alt tune 12, G4)
283 Zion, to thy Saviour singing* G3
287 Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness* (esp vv 1,3,6,7) *(vv 1,3,5,6) G5 (see TIS 503)
294 O God, unseen yet ever near* G6
306 I heard the voice of Jesus say G AT 137, 453, G7
347 Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah G6 (see TIS 569)
639 We thank Thee, Lord, for this our food G6
837 Feed us now, Bread of life GS
838 I am the Bread of life GS (see TIS 535 for inclusive language)AT
79 Feed us now
137 I heard the voice of Jesus say
167 I am the Bread of life
236 Jesus the Christ said (v 1)
267 Bread of heaven
270 Eat this bread
472 As we take this bread
473 Bread for the world
474 Bread of angels
478 This is the body
479 For living, for dyingTIS
239 Jesus the Lord said (v 1)
429 Break now the bread of life
469 This is the truth we hold
503 Robe yourself, my soul, in gladness (vv 1,3,5,6)
520 Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour
522 Christ is the heavenly food
535 I am the Bread of life
538 Feed us now, Bread of life
539 You satisfy the hungry heart
569 Guide me, O thou great Redeemer
585 I heard the voice of Jesus say
714 Eat this bread
PSALM 51
TIS 31, Have mercy on us, living Lord, is a paraphrase of Psalm 51, and TIS 32, Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness, is a version of Psalm 51:1-4a,10-12,15.

The following paraphrases of the psalm are by David Schütz. If reproducing either of these versions, please put ‘Words (c) David Schütz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm. The first is sung to the tune Aus tiefer Not (Luther, LHS 310).

Have mercy on me, O my God,
according to your steadfast love;
wipe my transgressions from your sight,
according to your gen’rous grace.
O wash me from iniquity,
and cleanse me from the stain of sin;
for I know my transgressions.

I’ve sinned against you, Lord, alone,
and done what’s evil in your sight,
so you are right to sentence me,
and blameless when you judge my sin.
Indeed, a sinner I was born,
but you seek truth within my heart;
so make me know your wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, make me clean;
O wash me, make me white as snow.
Let me hear sounds of joy again;
and give me gladness in my soul.
O let the bones you crushed be healed.
and turn your face from all my sins,
blot out all my transgressions.

Create in me a clean heart, God,
and let my spirit be renewed.
Don’t cast me out away from you,
or take your spirit from my heart.
Restore to me the joy I knew
when first you saved me from my sin.
Uphold me with your spirit.

This second version may be sung to the tune Delay not, LH 304. Note that verse 13 is added to complete the song verse.

Have mercy upon me, O God, in your love;
blot out my transgressions, O merciful God;
O wash me and cleanse me from all of my guilt,
for I know my sin and I know what I’ve done.

Against you, O Father, alone, I have sinned,
and done what is evil, condemned by your law.
I know that your judgment is righteous and true;
I know I am guilty, that’s how I was born.

But you look for truth in my innermost thoughts;
so give me your wisdom deep down in my heart.
Oh, purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean,
and wash me and make me far whiter than snow.

That I may be glad, let me hear your good news;
and let me rejoice when my bones have been healed.
Don’t let your eyes rest on the sins I have done;
blot out from your memory the things I’ve done wrong.

PSALM 78
The following paraphrase of Psalm 78:23-29 by David Schütz may be sung to the tune Vater unser (LH 421, TIS 550). If reproducing this version, please put ‘Words (c) David Schütz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

The Lord gave orders to the skies,
and opened up the gates of heaven,
the sky rained manna down on them,
and gave them grain from heaven to eat.
Then mortals fed on angels’ bread,
and they were filled beyond their need.

He made the wind blow from the east,
and rained down meat on them like dust,
full flocks of birds blew in like sand,
and fell around where they had camped.
So God gave them the food they craved,
and all were filled with meat and bread.

OTHER HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR CHURCH MUSICWhile the LCA does not necessarily endorse the content of these websites, you may find them helpful in your worship planning.Small Church Music: You can download mp3 and midi files of popular hymn tunes from this site.Together to Celebrate: lectionary based song and hymn suggestions from a variety of sources.Singing from the Lectionary: has song and hymn suggestions based on the RCL from other hymnals.Song Select: you can search for more contemporary songs by theme. If your congregation has a paid subscription you can also download sheet music.Hymns Without Words: mp3 downloads of hymn tunes.Song and Hymn Index. Contains all the indexes of the LHS and AT books in one Excel file. Download the file (zip file) here.Metrical Psalms by Dale Schoening : Psalms set to well known hymn tunes.Keyboard Accompaniments for Together in Song – CDs are available for purchase through ACR. CD 1 & 2 ; CD 3 & 4.